Spots & Stripes & 1930's!

A yummy parcel of Spots and Stripes arrived today from the EB Fat Quarter Swap - always such a nice suprise when they get here! I also bought a couple of lots of 1930's 6" squares from my local quilt shop when I was up there to drop Za Za off for a holiday to be quilted. Thought I would border them with some white homespun but am now thinking going with calico to fit in with the 1930's feel! Not that I am finding alot of time to sew...there seems to be alot going into my stash but not alot coming out of it to sew!!

A fabulous day today - a catch up with my oldest friend. Since she joined the police force it is so hard to find time to all get together, especially with the kids! We had a lovely time with them. The girls are still asleep after crashing out in the car on the way home, so I might go fold the washing and prepare dinner and enjoy some peace!

No Super Fit Here, Super Freak Maybe?

A couple of shots from the Bridge Run on Sunday morning. I especially love the photo of the Bridge. My official time is almost 9 minutes difference to what we timed - going from a mobile phone clearly is not the way to time yourself doing a run - so I felt very disappointed about that when I saw it! So my mission is to get to 55 minutes!! Doing another 10km run at the end of October in Lane Cove National Park. Just have to shake this horrid cold so I can start training! I think I am hooked...running and quilting - what a strange combination to be into!

These are the Sweet Daze of My Life!

With Za Za on a holiday to be quilted and having done 28 out of 40 circles on Strawberry Lemonade (and needing a little rest from it), I had a rummage through the lovely old Tassie Oak chest where all my quilting bits and bobs are stored. Oh yes, I exclaimed as I came across the lovely "Retro" quilt I started before I even decided to have lessons! A very basic first quilt for me, well that is what it was supposed to be!! I adore the fabric, "Sweet Daze" by Max New - the colour ways are definitely my favourite of the moment. Tonight I got half way through quilting it, and I love it! A few more hours work and it will be done, ready to bind! Then onto our bed, it will go.

I have a cold and am feeling quite sorry for myself. I had a real nothing kind of day yesterday while my girls were at kindy. I really enjoyed that! Today Zoe was at kindy and Ciára and I pottered and played the whole day. I made the desicion to go to training this morning which was a bad idea as I think it will set me back a few days when it comes to feeling healthy!

Dave is at a work dinner in the city tonight with some big wig of a company he deals with. They are at one of my favourite places, right on the Harbour Bridge, so i kinda wish I had to play corporate wife tonight, but the upside of it is that I got to sew sew sew!! I always stay up far too late when he is out!! Off to bed with some cold and flu tablets and a lemsip now!

Good night xxx

10km's Conquered!

This morning I did the Sydney Harbour Bridge Run, and I am delighted to say I ran the whole way, bar about 150 metres at the 7km mark when I had a huge drink! I also am happy to report that I did it in just over 55 minutes. All my training and hard work has paid off. Nikki has challenged me to do the half marathon next year - but that is a whole other kettle of fish for me. Maybe I will clock up another few runs and decide from there. It is about 10 years since I did any amount of regular running - I used to lived in Fairlight on the Northern Beaches and most mornings I would jog down to Manly and then do a couple of laps from Shelly Beach to Queenscliff and home again. I have struggled with my fitness since living in London (gotta love that Heathrow injection) and then coming home and meeting the love of my life and having children! Time was just getting away from me and I was last on the pecking order for any time to go and do a huge amount of exercise! Enough is enough though - the past few months have really motivated me to get that fitness level back up, and yesterday has inspired me to commit to running again! It will also set a great example for Zoe and Ciára - besides if Dave can run a half marathon and train for a full marathon - a measly 10k run every now and then is not going to hurt me is it!?

I raised $250 for the McGrath Foundation yesterday and I would like to thank my sponsors - you were a huge part of the reason I felt the need to jog the course. The McGrath Foundation is a great cause and I appreciate your support so much!

My First Jelly Roll Journey is on the Home Straight!

Today I completed the top of my Za Za Jelly Roll quilt, it was super simple until it came to lining up the columns...I think I did well though. I am really loving how it has turned out. The backing needs to be put together this evening, and then it is going on a little holiday to the quilter. I don't have time to quilt this one as it is for a gift...then to be bound and it is finito! Woo hoo! Better get moving, there is ironing to be done as well and an early night is absolutely necessary as I am doing the 10k Bridge Run in the morning (though it will be more like a shuffle!)

Going Za Za Over Jelly Rolls

Dave is at a work function tonight, the girls were exhausted after a long but fun morning at the zoo then a couple of hours with Zeus at the dog park so they were in bed and asleep by 6:45pm.

What's a girl to do then? With wine in hand & Sex in the City DVD on I set up my machine and started on my first Jelly Roll journey. I am loving it. The fabric is Moda's Za Za and the quilt is a very basic design from this book (which has about 5 post it notes marking future projects). I am really liking the way it is coming together as I really love the colours of this fabric, it is quite different from my usual taste! I might have to keep this one for myself, even though that wasn't the original plan!

Time for bed now, I will finish my strips tomorrow night in readiness for my DOUBLE ("WOO HOO") lesson on Saturday.

Life in Colour

Zoe taking photos of her mummy, it was very funny from my angle!

Ciára looks so angelic when she is sleeping. This was when she was sick last week.

Zoe the Rock Star

Ciára showing off her Yoga ability at the village

Our Zeusy Boy


p.s. I am not posting anymore photos of Strawberry Lemonade until it is finito - if I ever get through those applique circles - maybe I can do it in my sleep to save time, I have done so many of them I feel like I could!

Thank you

Now I know that I have a few readers, I will carry on blogging. I was feeling like it was a bit of a waste of time if no-one was reading it! Let's face it we all have so much to do, it is just one more thing on the list! Please keep leaving me comments so I am inspired to share my bits and pieces!

I had my "day off" yesterday - both the girls were at kindy. I got quite a bit done. My indulgence after drop off is to go and sit in my favourite cafe in the village with a mag, book or paper and have a coffee and scones. It is my sanity time just for me! Yesterday I sat with a copy of the most recent Handmade magazine. I wish a girl had more time to do things like sew and create! It inspired me to pull all my quilty and sewing books and magazines out and last night, whilst Dave and I watched the Underbelly DVD I flicked and flicked and flicked. Anything that really caught my eye as a future potential project got a post it note! Now to finish all my WIP's so I can start working my way through them. I am told that once you fall in love with quilting that you are constantly on the lookout for new projects to do once you get through what you are working on. I also love that it is completely normal for me to be working on far too many projects at once!

Ciára is asleep so I must make the most of this time, washing to get in, fold and put away, straighten the place up and then I am going to iron! Oh the life of a Domestic Goddess, whoever would have thought that I would fall into this category!

xxx

Do You Read My Blog???

I have been a bit bad with posting on my blog as I have no idea if anyone is actually reading it!

If you are, please please leave a comment so I know that you have been to visit!

Thank you x

Strawberry Lemonade....

I have done zilcho sewing since my last lesson, but last night my sew-jo returned with a vengeance. The machine is still out on the back room table ready to rock and roll once the princesses are sleeping tonight.

So, a bit more work on Zoe's Strawberry Lemonade quilt has been accomplished. Until it gets to the quilting stage, it is all I am going to concentrate on. All borders bar one have been added plus a few more circles appliqued. I am going to finish the borders tonight and add a couple more circles. I will be an expert at basic applique by the time this one is done!

Zoe is delighted with it so far and keeps bugging me to finish her "Strawberry Room!"


Sounds like Miss Ciára is destroying the bathroom cupboard again... better save my MAC!